The devastation of Superstorm Sandy and the demolition of a former home for freed slaves were the two top stories of 2012 according to an unscientific poll of Bergen Beat Readers.

The Democrats winning control of the freeholder board, the sentencing of former Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa and the defeat of an effort to merge the County Police into the Sheriff’s Office rounded out the top five stories.

A total of 248 people responded to the unscientific poll which was conducted between Dec. 18-22.

Here’s the complete list of a readers top 10 list:

1. Superstorm Sandy.

Demolition of the Zabriskie House (tied for first.)

3.Democrats win control of freeholder board.

4. Hackensack police chief sentenced to five years.

5. Freeholders reject County Police/Sheriff’s merger.

6. Rabbi’s home firebombed/Wave of anti-Semitic incidents

7. War of words between County Executive/Sheriff.

8. Pascrell defeats Rothman in Democratic primary.

Blue Laws temporarily suspended in storm’s wake (tied for eighth.)

10. Shroeder charged with writing bad checks.

My own top 10 list this year is slightly different. While the demolition of the Zabriskie House was on my list as well, it was not the top story when you consider the impact of Sandy.

I also don’t think the temporary suspension of county’s Blue Laws was worthy of my top 10 list.

Instead, I’ve included the approval of a $115 million bond to build a new Justice Center and renovate the century-old Courthouse, making it the largest public works project in the county’s history.

I’ve also included the lawsuits that flew between various branches of county government earlier this year as a significant story.